It is estimated that the approximately 9.2 billion tons of plastic produced over 67 years between 1950 and 2017 could be produced in the next 23 years, considering the increasing population and production rate. Experts state that the main problem is not the production of plastic, but its rapid consumption and transformation into waste after production; they state that as a result of plastic materials containing highly harmful substances such as BPA, lead, copper, and cadmium mixing into nature, soil, marine life, and rivers are severely damaged. Dr. Ahmet Adiller reminds that the average annual per capita plastic consumption in Turkey is currently around 75 kg, emphasizing that small measures can create big impacts. According to Dr. Adiller, plastic bag use should be reduced as much as possible, and shopping should be done with cloth bags. Glass storage containers can be preferred instead of cling film, freezer bags, or plastic storage containers. Adiller added that studies show 1 kg of plastic per person annually ends up in the Mediterranean Sea.
We are introducing 1 kg of plastic per person into the Mediterranean Sea annually…
Dr. Lecturer Ahmet Adiller from the Environmental Health Program at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Vocational School of Health Services discussed the harms of plastic materials, whose production has reached serious levels today, to the environment and living health, and listed individual measures to prevent environmental pollution.
Plastic production is in a dire state
Dr. Ahmet Adiller stated that fossil fuels such as natural gas or petroleum are the raw material for a large portion of the plastics produced for over 100 years and widely used in almost every field today. He said, “Plastics, which began to be produced at the beginning of the 20th century, have been produced and used much more widely, especially since the 1950s. According to research, approximately 9.2 billion tons of plastic are estimated to have been produced between 1950 and 2017. Half of this amount was produced between 2004 and 2017. The amount of plastic produced in 2020 is 400 million tons. If we do a quick calculation, we will produce as much plastic in 23 years as was produced in 67 years between 1950 and 2017 if we continue at this rate. If we consider that the production rate will increase due to the population growth rate, it is probable that we will produce much more.” He underlined that plastic production will create significant problems in the future.
The main problem is rapid consumption and becoming waste
Dr. Ahmet Adiller stated that there is no fundamentally huge health or environmental risk in terms of production, saying, “It creates environmental pollution as much as any production activity, but the main problem is its rapid consumption. One of the most common areas where plastics are used today is packaging materials. Its use as a packaging material actually carries both the risk of migration to food products and means that it is rapidly consumed and becomes waste after production.”
They accumulate in human and living bodies…
Dr. Ahmet Adiller also emphasized that plastics, which we mainly use as packaging materials, are not as innocent as commonly believed, stating, “Many studies focused on microplastics and the migration of plastics into food products in recent years show that plastic packaging materials, used for many years to ensure hygiene, accumulate in human and living bodies with their contents and breakdown, deteriorating environmental conditions. A large part of plastic materials can also contain highly harmful substances such as BPA, lead, copper, and cadmium. When these mix into nature, a large part of living beings are exposed to them.”
A gigantic garbage island is located in the Pacific Ocean
Dr. Ahmet Adiller pointed out that seas, rivers, and soils are polluted with microplastics, saying, “Studies show that microplastics are found in many products, from seafood to agricultural products. Due to the chemicals they contain, plastics, which can also have carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting properties, increase the risk of cancer in living beings and disrupt hormonal structure. On the other hand, these wastes, dumped uncontrolled into nature, mix with water and soil, causing great environmental pollution. The scale of this pollution is so immense that; there is a garbage island in the Pacific Ocean, covering 1.6 million square kilometers, created by approximately 80 million tons of plastic waste, which is more than 2 times the area of our country.”
Plastic products cause serious health problems
Dr. Ahmet Adiller emphasized that when plastic products enter our bodies, they usually cannot be broken down by metabolic activities and therefore can accumulate in tissues and organs, stating, “Recent studies show microplastic accumulation in many living tissues, even in blood. Considering the carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting effects of chemicals present in some plastic products, this accumulation negatively affects the functioning of many organs and systems. Since the endocrine system particularly affects many different systems in our body through hormones, the accumulation of plastics in the body, taking into account the chemical components they contain, can lead to many health problems, from skin problems to diabetes, from reproductive system disorders to digestive system diseases.”
Alternative eco-friendly products should be developed
Dr. Ahmet Adiller stated that many regulations regarding the control of packaging materials exist in many countries, including ours, but unfortunately, these regulations have not been able to show sufficient impact, and continued:
“Although plastic recycling somewhat reduces the production of these plastic wastes and prevents them from being released into nature, it is not a definitive solution because many plastic materials cannot be recycled. Those that can be recycled can be used as raw materials through a recycling process only 1 or at most 2 times. Prohibiting the use of these products is also not possible in the short term, considering today's needs. There is a need to develop alternative eco-friendly products that can replace them before they are banned. There are some promising studies in this regard. Although products made from plant sugar or chitin found in crustaceans are currently available, widespread use in all packaging materials requires time and investment.”
Small changes can make a big impact
Dr. Ahmet Adiller stated that the average annual per capita plastic consumption in Turkey was 14kg in 1995 and 30kg in 1999, while it is around 75 kg today, saying, “Because many things that were previously produced as metal or wood can now be produced as plastic more easily and at a lower cost. Furthermore, studies show that 1 kg of plastic per person annually ends up in the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, even small changes can make a big impact.”
Glass should be preferred over plastic
Dr. Ahmet Adiller said that first and foremost, plastic bag use should be reduced as much as possible and shopping should be done with cloth bags, concluding:
“Beyond that, if there is a wooden or metal alternative for any product we are going to buy, we should prefer it. In our homes, we can choose glass storage containers instead of cling film, freezer bags, or plastic storage containers used for food storage. Many studies show that plastic packaging materials cause plastic migration into food products. This way, we would do something beneficial for both our health and nature. One of the most common areas where plastic packaging materials are used is take-out products. Instead of ordering ready-made food, we should either cook and eat at home or prefer restaurants. Instead of consuming bottled water, we should carry a water bottle with us. In cafes, instead of using disposable cups and plastic straws, we should prefer porcelain mugs or carry a thermos and ask for our drink to be served in it. Furthermore, in our daily lives, we use many products made of plastic, from razors to water bottles, from plastic plates to gloves, from towels to tablecloths. Almost all of these products have more durable and long-lasting alternatives. Preferring these over single-use plastic products will help significantly reduce our plastic consumption.”